Kevin Costner Snaps Back at Gayle King When Asked About ‘Yellowstone’ Exit

Kevin Costner got testy with Gayle King when the veteran journalist persistently quizzed him about his reasons for leaving Yellowstone.

Costner was promoting his new movie Horizon: An American Saga Chapter One (out now) on Thursday’s installment of CBS Mornings when the conversation took an uncomfortable turn. The actor recently announced, after nearly a year of back and forth, that he wouldn’t be returning for Yellowstone’s final season. Instead, he plans to focus on the upcoming three chapters of Horizon.

“[People] say because of Horizon, it caused problems for you on Yellowstone,” King said as Costner vehemently shook his head “no.” The journalist pressed further, claiming “people say” Costner and Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan are “both big egos, both very powerful, both at the top of their game, and that right now, maybe you two are playing a game of whose is bigger? Do you see it that way?” King asked, then stressing the innuendo in a jokey tone: “Whose is bigger, Kevin?”

"I love the show," Costner responded candidly of Yellowstone while avoiding the question. "I loved the show before anybody. It was Taylor and myself. The truth never changes—that love was really strong. The idea of going back—I would do that in a second if I felt that it was…something that I could do, wanted to do, I would make it fit."

But King shot back that “the characterization” of Costner by Yellowstone’s producers “isn’t necessarily flattering. You made demands, you want to have a certain schedule, you want to shoot at a certain time, you want certain money,” she said of the claims. “Why can’t the two of you be able to work it out? People would love to see that.”

That’s when Costner lost his temper. "This isn't therapy, Gayle,” he said flatly. “I mean we're not gonna discuss this on the show. Really, I mean honestly."

The actor then said of claims he had a hand in delaying Yellowstone’s production: “I’ve conducted my life in a pretty straightforward way. I’ve never missed any obligations in my entire career.”

On June 21, Costner officially stepped down from his starring role on the hit Paramount+ series. It put an end to almost a year of sniping between the actor and Sheridan, each of whom laid blame for the delay on the other.

“I just want to reach out and let you know that after this long year and a half of working on Horizon and doing all the things that that’s required,” Costner began, “and thinking about Yellowstone, that beloved series that I love, that I know you love. I just realized that I’m not going to be able to continue, season five or into the future.”

Yellowstone’s final season is set to premiere on November 10. Horizon: Chapter One is currently in cinemas nationwide.

You can watch Costner's CBS Mornings interview below.